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ERIC FRANCIS, QMI Agency

Plopped into the middle of a sibling rivalry of sorts, Jay Feaster insists the situation between Darryl and Brent Sutter is well under control.

The Calgary Sun revealed last season the GM and coach were at odds at times, leading president Ken King to hire Feaster as a go-between.

And by several accounts things are much better as the two are now much closer to being on the same page and communicating much more.

"I think their relationship is a whole lot better than most people believe it to be," said Feaster, the club's assistant GM.

"You have two strong-willed individuals who have their opinions on how things should be done. The coach's concern is the next shift, period and game. The manager is looking macro. The same thing is true whether they're brothers or not. Does it mean they're always on the same page? Absolutely not. Nor was (Tampa coach John Tortorella) and I, but there's a whole lot more communication that takes place between the two of them than is visible to the fan."

Feaster said that as the former coach of the team, Darryl made it clear he needed some help bridging the gap between his office upstairs and the coaching staff and team he used to head up behind the bench.

Feaster is that buffer.

"Darryl's a close to the vest kind of guy -- he's not someone who is forthcoming," said Feaster, who will travel with the team at all times.

"If a one-word answer will do it, that's a good answer for Darryl. My role is to be that guy who's there to listen to concerns from coaches and talk to them about it and let Darryl know."

He's also there to help with cap issues, negotiations and media duties Sutter has clearly never been fond of.

Ever the diplomat, Feaster downplays the chasm between the brothers at every turn.

"I think sometimes a brothers' relationship can be misinterpreted how the communication is," he said.

"I think it's a good relationship. And the ties with family make it even deeper. I think the whole thing is a bit overblown just because of their quiet nature. The two of them are not going to talk about the fact that they talk all the time."